Australian TAFEs Join Forces to Tackle the Cyber Security Skills Gap

29 January 2018

Australia’s first national skills-based cyber security Certificate and Diploma level qualifications, to be delivered by TAFEs across the country in 2018, were launched by the Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity, Angus Taylor MP, and the Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Karen Andrews MP in Canberra on 25 January 2017.

“There is a critical shortage of skilled cyber security workers in Australia, needed to help secure organisations against malicious cyber activity, so it is extremely encouraging to see Australian TAFEs join forces to do what TAFEs do best—provide practical, hands-on skills aligned with industry needs” AustCyber CEO Craig Davies said.

The cyber security qualifications offered by the TAFEs have been developed in close collaboration with a range of industry partners, including the National Australia Bank (NAB), Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ANZ Bank, nbnco, Cisco Australia and New Zealand, REA Group, BAE Systems, Telstra, Deloitte, CITT, the Australian Information Security Association and ISACA.

Malicious cyber activity is growing worldwide, driving a dramatic increase in demand for cyber security solutions, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Over the next decade the Australian cyber security industry is forecast to almost triple in size, with revenue soaring to at least A$6 billion by 2026 from just over A$2 billion today.

“An appropriately skilled and educated cyber security workforce is critical to Australia’s ability to capitalise on this growth opportunity at the same time as improving Australia’s cyber resilience” AustCyber CEO Craig Davies said. “Australia’s Cyber Security Sector Competitiveness Plan, released by AustCyber last year, conservatively estimates that Australian employers will need at least 11,000 additional cyber security workers over the next decade – and this only covers a set of technical roles.”

The practical courses offered by the TAFEs will open pathways to learners seeking further education and a potential new career meeting the security challenges faced by Australian employers.

“The Box Hill Institute Group is proud to be able to lead on this national TAFE approach and I’m grateful for the support from our colleagues around the country and the Victorian and Federal Governments. By combining the strengths of our teachers and our facilities, we’ve developed a training solution boosted by our combined development of resources and synchronisation of the delivery of programs,” Box Hill Institute Group CEO Norman Gray said.

The Certificate IV in Cyber Security 22334VIC and Advanced Diploma of Cyber Security 22445VIC courses are practical, non-degree courses that students can complete on-the-job. They are available for enrolment at Box Hill Institute (VIC), Canberra Institute of Technology (ACT), TAFE NSW, TAFE QLD, TAFE WA (SMT & NMT), TAFE SA from 2018. TasTAFE and Charles Darwin University (NT) are committed to providing Cyber Security training and will work closely with industry in their respective jurisdictions to plan implementation of these programs in 2018, in line with other states and territories .